MURIE AUDUBON PROGRAM PRESENTS, Dr. George P. Jones, Vegetation Ecologist with the will be our guest speaker at the May program.

First, George will explain why the WYNDD exists, which is to provide information for people to use in resource development, management, and conservation.

Second, what they concentrate on: plants and animals that either are rare in Wyoming or are common only here, and the state’s vegetation – or habitat – or ecosystem-types. This part would be, basically, explaining what the biodiversity of Wyoming looks like from our point of view. Third, how they develop and provide this information. He will explain how, and why, their business has changed over the years to include more focused surveys, better-defined survey techniques, and the like.

WYNDD is a member of a network of similar programs collectively known as the Natural Heritage Network. Each of the 50 US states, most Canadian provinces, and many Latin American countries house a network program dedicated to gathering and developing biological information on species of conservation concern and natural vegetation communities. Programs in the network use the same database methodology and software and receive technical support from a coordinating organization known as NatureServe. Most programs are housed in universities or state agencies; WYNDD operates as a service and research unit of the University of Wyoming.

Please join us on Friday, May 11, 2018 at 7 pm at the Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Building at 2211 King Blvd. for this program. As always, the program is free and open to the public!